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Matiang’i raises red flag on IEBC ahead of 2027 polls
10th November, 2025 03:45 PM
As Kenya inches closer to the next general election, Jubilee Party Deputy Leader and 2027 presidential flagbearer Fred Matiang’i has raised concern over what he terms as “clear signs of unpreparedness” by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
Speaking after attending a church service in Kiambu on Sunday, November 9, 2025, Matiang’i said the electoral body’s limited deployment of registration centres across constituencies was discouraging potential voters, especially young people eager to participate in shaping the country’s future.
“You know, if you have one registration point for an entire constituency, it means people must travel long distances just to register as voters. Clearly, IEBC is not prepared for proper voter registration,” he lamented.
The former CS had earlier raised the alarm over rising pre-election bribery.
Matiang’i noted that the low deployment of registration kits and personnel was “puzzling,” adding that while the current IEBC team was relatively new, it must quickly learn from the ongoing exercise to avoid a repeat of logistical chaos during the mass registration phase.
“I don’t want to pass judgment harshly, but IEBC must deliberately plan better. Universities and colleges should serve as registration centres because that is where our unregistered youth are.
“In this day of technology, why behave like pre-Cambrian people who must walk miles just to register? Let’s run this country the modern way,” he insisted.
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary also emphasised the importance of civic participation, warning that citizens who fail to take part in democratic processes “essentially deny themselves the right to influence the direction of their country.”
Commitment to opposition
Matiang’i, who spoke after attending a church service in Limuru, Kiambu County, reaffirmed that the Jubilee Party remains a full member of the united opposition, sitting alongside other coalition partners under the coordination of Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, with Mukhisa Kituyi serving as spokesperson.
“Jubilee is already a member of the United Opposition. That is a party decision, not an individual’s position. Our party leader chaired a meeting that resolved our participation, and we respect those structures.
“I will not be the first to jump out of them because that’s how good ideas and plans are messed up,” he insisted.
Matiang’i said the united opposition was jointly mobilising Kenyans, especially first-time voters, to register in large numbers ahead of 2027.
He described the ongoing voter registration as a “critical first step in reclaiming the country’s direction through the ballot.”
But even as he rallied the youth to take part in democratic processes, Matiang’i spared no words in criticising the government for what he called misplaced priorities and economic mismanagement that continues to burden ordinary Kenyans.
He faulted the administration for slashing student capitation by nearly half, terming it “an insensitive decision” at a time when families are already reeling from high living costs and multiple deductions such as the housing levy and Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions.
“Are we serious, honestly? Let’s cut wastage in government, stop this empowerment craze and do the right thing.
“This is common sense, you don’t need philosophers to tell you that educating our children is more critical than dishing out cash in the name of empowerment,” he upheld.
As the Jubilee flagbearer continues to shape his 2027 political message, Matiang’i appeared keen to position himself as a reformist voice, one blending governance discipline with a rallying call for practical, citizen-centred leadership.
“Let’s think outside the box, fix our systems, and prioritise what truly matters for our people,” he told journalists.
In the broader opposition landscape, Matiang’i will likely share the political stage with other seasoned figures seeking to unseat President William Ruto in 2027.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua, DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua and former Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi, all key figures within the united opposition, are expected to play prominent roles, either as candidates or power brokers.
The opposition front, which has styled itself as a reformist alternative to the Kenya Kwanza administration, is currently working towards fielding a unified presidential ticket to challenge Ruto’s re-election bid.
